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16 December 2021

Three high-risk intersections at Mount Moriac will become the first area on the Surf Coast to benefit from safer technology aimed at reducing the risk of crashes.

 

Member for South Barwon Darren Cheeseman said the side road activated speed (SRAS) technology was now operational at the intersections of the Princes Highway and Hendy Main Road, Princes Highway and Cape Otway/Devon Road, and Reservoir Road and Cape Otway Road.

 

SRAS provides an opportunity for vehicles to enter or cross main roads safely by temporarily lowering the speed limit to oncoming traffic. When a car on the side road approaches the intersection, this triggers electronic speed signs on the main road to reduce the speed by 30km/h.

 

The reduced speed limit will stay activated until there are no more vehicles on the side roads waiting to enter or cross the main road.

 

The new technology will make it easier for drivers to enter from side roads to choose safe traffic gaps, significantly reducing the risk of high-speed crashes at these intersections.

 

In the five-year period to January 2021, there were nine crashes across the two intersections on the Princes Highway – eight resulting in serious injury.

 

Further safety upgrades to these intersections include tree trimming and line of sight improvements, plus barrier modifications and additional barrier installation.

 

An average of 7,300 vehicles, including 1,500 trucks, use this section of the Princes Highway each day, while 3,200 vehicles travel along Cape Otway Road near Reservoir Road each day.

 

SRAS technology is a new initiative in regional Victoria and is being rolled out across a number of high-speed, high-risk intersections.

 

The Andrews Labor Government is investing $1.4 billion into road safety infrastructure to reduce road trauma and save lives.

 

“Many families will make their way to the beach this summer using roads such as Cape Otway Road – with the school holidays looming, there is no better time to be rolling out this safer technology.

 

“These intersections have been the site of a number of crashes resulting in serious injury in
recent years; SRAS will reduce the risk of crashes and make journeys safer for all road users.”